Straps and buttons: the one failure that drops an instrument
Straps and buttons: the one failure that drops an instrument
Straps almost never break. What happens is that the strap end works its way off the button, usually while the instrument is being lifted or turned, and usually without warning.
Why it happens
A standard strap button is a small mushroom shape. The strap hole stretches with use — leather especially — until the hole is wider than the button head, and then only friction is holding it on.
Heavier instruments accelerate this, because there is more weight working the hole open every time the strap moves.
The cheap fixes
Rubber strap blocks — often sold as washers or, historically, improvised from a bottle-top washer — slip over the button after the strap and physically stop it lifting off. They cost very little and solve the problem completely for most players.
They are the sensible default for anyone who plays standing.
Strap locks
Locking systems replace the button with a pin and fit a matching catch to the strap. They are secure and quick to detach, which matters if the instrument is put down often.
Two things to know: they usually require replacing the existing button, which means a screw going into the same hole, and if the strap is shared between instruments, all of them need the same system.
Width and weight
A wider strap spreads the load and is noticeably more comfortable under a heavy instrument over an hour. Around two and a half inches is a common width for bass players for exactly this reason; narrower straps concentrate the weight on a smaller patch of shoulder.
Padding helps too, though width tends to matter more than padding thickness.
Materials
Leather and suede are hard-wearing and grip clothing well, which stops the instrument sliding forwards when you lean. Suede in particular has an anti-slip quality that players either love or find too grabby.
Woven and synthetic straps are lighter, cheaper and easier to clean. They slide more on smooth fabric.
Whatever the material, the strap ends are the wear point. Reinforced or double-layer ends last far longer than a single thickness of soft leather.
Length
Adjustment range matters more than nominal length. A strap that is at its longest setting for you has nowhere to go and often has an unreinforced amount of adjustment tail flapping.
Where a maker gives an adjustment range, check that your comfortable playing height sits in the middle of it rather than at an extreme.
Where a second button goes
Some acoustics have no strap button at the heel, only at the tail. Tying to the headstock is traditional and works, though it changes the balance. Fitting a heel button is a job for a technician, not a job for a household screwdriver — the screw is going into a structural joint.
Practical checks before ordering
- Fit rubber strap blocks; they are the cheapest insurance available.
- Choose a wider strap for a heavy instrument.
- Check the adjustment range covers your height comfortably.
- Prefer reinforced strap ends.
- If you use locks, fit the same system to every instrument the strap will be used on.
Where this sits in the shop
Everything discussed above comes back to one part of the shop: Straps and Picks, which currently holds 2 listings between $8.99 and $21.59. The whole of it is picked and packed at Yung Chin, 1776 Broadway, New York, NY, during Tue–Fri 7:30am–3pm, closed Sat–Mon — so anything written here can be checked by phoning the counter on ((212) 582-3626.
From our shelves
- YIKOKO Guitar Strap 2.5", Simply Soft Suede Leather Guitar Straps, Anti-Slip, Classic — $21.59
- 120 Pcs Celluloid Guitar Picks for Acoustic Electric Bass Guitars- 3 Sizes — $8.99
What we get asked about this
How fast are refunds?
We issue the refund within 5–7 business days of the return arriving. Your bank then takes its own one to five days to show it.
Can I cancel an order?
Yes, before it is picked — usually within about 12 hours on a business day. After dispatch it becomes a return.
Read next
- Guitar stands and racks: how many instruments, and where
- Wall mounts: what the neck actually rests on
- Bass strings: gauge, winding and what each change does
Ordering from Yung Chin
Orders of $49.00 or more ship free anywhere in the United States, and a flat $5.99 covers everything below that. Handling takes 1–2 business days and carrier transit is normally 3–7 business days. Unused items can go back within 30 days, and if the mistake was ours we pay the return postage.
Questions about anything above go to [email protected], answered within 1 business day, or call (212) 582-3626. Full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Refund and Returns pages.